Judge temporarily blocks Trump from retaliating against New York over
congestion toll
[May 28, 2025]
By PHILIP MARCELO
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in New York has temporarily prevented
President Donald Trump from retaliating against the state over its
Manhattan congestion toll.
Judge Lewis Liman on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order
blocking the federal government from withholding federal funds or taking
other punitive actions against the state at least until June 9 while he
weighs a lawsuit the state has filed against the federal government to
keep the toll in place.
The toll on drivers entering the busiest part of Manhattan was approved
under former President Joe Biden, but has been strongly opposed by
Trump, a native New Yorker whose namesake Trump Tower and other
properties are within the congestion zone.
The Republican administration rescinded federal approval in February,
prompting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency
overseeing the tolls, to challenge the decision.
In recent months, Trump officials have issued three ultimatums to New
York, even threatening to pull funding and approvals for transportation
projects.
But New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the state will continue
collecting the toll until a judge orders it to stop.
The Democrat touted Tuesday’s ruling, which came after Liman heard
arguments from both sides in Manhattan federal court, as a “massive
victory” for New York commuters.
“New Yorkers deserve to control our own traffic patterns, keep gridlock
off our streets and protect our clean air,” Hochul said in a statement.
“We need to make the massive investments necessary to support our
transit system and prevent it from falling into disarray and disrepair.
Congestion pricing is the right solution to get us there.”
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Signs, including some advising drivers of congestion pricing
tolls, are displayed near the exit of the Lincoln Tunnel in New
York, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Halee Dobbins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of
Transportation, said the administration will comply with the court
order, stressing the judge's decision is only temporary and not on
the merits of the case itself.
“We look forward to making our case in court against Hochul’s
illegal tolls as we work to protect working-class Americans from
being unfairly charged to go to work, see their families, or visit
the city,” she said.
The toll started in January and generally imposes $9 on drivers
entering Manhattan south of Central Park, though it varies depending
on the kind of vehicle and time of day.
New York officials say the program is already helping to reduce
traffic and will eventually pump billions of dollars into its
subways, commuter trains and public buses.
Suburban commuters have pushed back against the toll, though,
because it comes on top of existing ones for crossing bridges and
tunnels into the city.
London, Stockholm and other big cities around the world have long
had similar fees to reduce traffic congestion in their central
business districts.
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